Working Out Your Faith Muscle
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:2-4
How do you build muscle in your body? You exercise, right? You work out. You push through difficulties and discomfort to strengthen the muscles and ultimately become stronger. Building your faith works in a similar way.
Faith is like a muscle that grows supple and strong with exercise, and God wants us to build that muscle. If faith pleases God, then God will often allow us to experience the workouts that we need to build that spiritual muscle.
A Japanese Christian said, “A faith that does nothing, gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.” It is no wonder that James declares these words, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).;
When you experience a trial in your life, do you throw up your hands and say, “Praise the Lord. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to have a trial like this”? This is what the Scripture says we should do. “Consider it pure joy, when you go through some tough times.” That certainly is a different mentality! The principles of the Christian life are inverted from our life as humans. God knows that you have to be stretched. That faith muscle must be tested in order for it to grow. But the outcome is always worth the workout.
How do you build muscle in your body? You exercise, right? You work out. You push through difficulties and discomfort to strengthen the muscles and ultimately become stronger. Building your faith works in a similar way.
Faith is like a muscle that grows supple and strong with exercise, and God wants us to build that muscle. If faith pleases God, then God will often allow us to experience the workouts that we need to build that spiritual muscle.
A Japanese Christian said, “A faith that does nothing, gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.” It is no wonder that James declares these words, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).;
When you experience a trial in your life, do you throw up your hands and say, “Praise the Lord. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to have a trial like this”? This is what the Scripture says we should do. “Consider it pure joy, when you go through some tough times.” That certainly is a different mentality! The principles of the Christian life are inverted from our life as humans. God knows that you have to be stretched. That faith muscle must be tested in order for it to grow. But the outcome is always worth the workout.
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2 Comments
It seems that I get stretched a lot. But, I keep persevering because I know God and Jesus love me and are with me and helping me through to the end 💛
I know that Many days it seems as though things aren't going the way I had hoped they would. I recall JESUS saying You will have trials when you follow ME. Remember JESUS is Always there to See Us through those times. Nothing will ever stop Us if We stand on God's Word !